The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-24
ROSsER Is AN ASS.
So Says Jubal A Early in Reply to the
Generals Recently Expressed Opinions

Generals Recently Expressed Opinions.
Richmond va Special.
Gen. JubalA. Early is out in the State in a
card. in reply to Gen. Thomas L. Rosser's card,
i'll which Rosser said Early should have been
hanged for burning Chambersburg. General
Early says:
.sRosser has heretofore shown his utter disre-
gard for the truth in some publications he has
made in regard to some of the operations of the
Army Of Northern Virginia, and especially those
or my command. In the valley In 1864, and
have fully demonstrated the falslty of many OF
his statements Having previously fig
ured extensively as falsifier of his
tory, he has recently appeared in another
roie-that of a consummate ass-and it must be
confessed that he has proved himself an adept
in that character. AS to his expressed opinion
in regard to my conduct in having Chambers
burg burned, gentlemen determine how
much weight is to be given to that opinion when
they read an extract from letter written by
him to a gentleman in Canada in 1868 which
will give. The letter quoted reads thus
BALTIMORE, Nd. Jan. 25, 1868.
ITO Col. George I. Denison:
''Colonel-Inclosed you will find few thoughts
pleased to serve you and my noble friend. General
Early Very truly yours. THOMAS L. RossEs.
"Major general G. $. A..
General Early goes on to say:
Il was shown the original letter. and from the
closing sentences in it. compared with Ros-
ser's recent utterances, discerning public
estimate how much Importance should be at
tached to any opinion of his any subject.
He now thinks his noble friend ought have
been hung for the burning of Chambersburg.
Really. what Rosser thinks or says in regard to
myself disrurbs very little. What actually
distresses me is to one who occupied the po-
sition of general officer in the confederate
army fall as low he has fallen. It seems that
a residence of several years in the Northwest
and the accumulation of considerable property
there by best known to himseie
have had the effect of convincing him that the
South was all wrong in the struggle she made
for independence and elfgovernment, and that
1t was fortunate that his mighty efforts for four
years in her failed of success to those true
and faithful confederates who, like myself, feel
mortified when one of our former comrades be-
comes renegade to the cause we fought for.
have this consolation to offer We do not stand
alone in having apostates from our ranks. We
learn that even one of the brightest of the arch
around the throne of the Almighty. rebelled
against his Creator. and carried off number of
the angels into the rebellion. And one of the
chosen apostles of the Savior of mankind
betrayed his Master with kiss for thirty pieces
of silver. This much, however, Is to be said in
behalf of Judas Iscariot: When he became
aware of the effect of his treachery he had the
grace to cast from him the thirty pieces of sill
yer, the price of his treachery, and 60 and hang
himself. If some of our renegades would 60 and
do likewise, we might regard the act
atonement for their apostacy, and the most cred
liable act they could now perform. have heard
it suggested that Rosser is aspiring to be the
member of Congress from which some lower
valley counties constitute the greater part, and
that his recent letter about the rumored inten-
ton of Sheridan to ride up the valley was in
tended to aid his aspirations in that respect"